Oh baby! Have we got a lot to share about dogs and babies. This blog is written by Certified Professional Dog Trainer Jenn Merritt and her dog Royal. Jenn specializes in helping expectant pet parents and pet parents with new babies adapt to life with their dogs. Royal specializes in squirrel investigation, attempted motorcycle herding, and sleeping belly up.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Does Your Dog Have C.L.A.S.S.?

It's very exciting that the Association of Pet Dog Trainers has a new program called C.L.A.S.S., which is short for Canine Life and Social Skills. Jenn became an official CLASS evaluator and is now teaching CLASS at Extraordinary Ventures in Chapel Hill.

So what's CLASS all about anyway? CLASS is a three-level evaluation for dogs and their person to demonstrate real-life skills, along with assessing your person's knowledge basic dog handling and care. The program also promotes the use of reward based training with all dogs. That sounds terrific! But can I actually use these skills?

Jenn says most definitely and that training me for the CLASS evaluations will be a great way to brush up on my overall skills. I love to work in training classes, but CLASS skills extend into real life, that's the point.

It's not just about learning stuff for training classes. It's about you and your dog learning real life skills that you'll actually use everyday. Stuff like learning to walk on a loose leash, settling down on a mat at home and in public, calmly and politely meeting strangers for petting and treats, laying next to your person quietly as they are eating a meal, and coming when called, just to name a few.

So your person can take you out in public, your world can be expanded, and CLASS dogs can be ambassadors of good social behaviors and go places that other dogs can't. Check out the skills that I'm working on for the first level of CLASS called the B.A.:

1.

WAIT AT THE DOOR

Real-life Relevance

The ability to maintain position until invited to advance through a door is a convenience to the student and can save a dog’s life.

WARM-UP TIME

Real-life Relevance

A dog is better able to focus and relax when he has a chance to assess his immediate environment.

2.

COME AND LEADING UP MANNERS

Real-life Relevance

Coming when called could save your dog’s life if he gets loose. Training a dog to want to come to you also helps strengthen the bond between dog and student.

3.

LOOSE LEASH WALKING AND ATTENTION

Real-life Relevance

Teaching and practicing loose leash walking and checking in with one another builds comfort, ease, and connectedness between the dog and student.

4.

MEET AND GREET

Real-life Relevance

The importance of a dog remaining politely at the student’s side shows the dog’s self-control when meeting someone. This also allows the opportunity for the student to understand if it is appropriate or not for someone to greet or handle their dog.

BONUS 1: ROLLOVER, SPIN, FETCH, SPEAK, OR PAW

Real-life Relevance

Teaching simple tricks is a fun way to practice training with your dog. See

5.

LEAVE IT

Real-life Relevance

Leave It is useful when you do not want your dog to go near something, and can be a life-saving skill.

6.

WAIT FOR THE FOOD BOWL

Real-life Relevance

Rather than grabbing or rushing for the food, waiting for the food bowl is good manners and strengthens a dog’s self-control.

7.

STAY

Real-life Relevance

Stay is useful when you need your dog to remain in place.

8.

SETTLE

Real-life Relevance

A dog who can calm down on cue is more manageable in the home and may be more welcome in other social settings

9.

GIVE AND TAKE

Real-life Relevance

Living with a dog who does not guard food or objects, willingly drops items on cue, and takes items gently from the student is safer for the student and less stressful for the dog.

BONUS 2: TRICK OF STUDENT’S CHOICE

Real-life Relevance

Tricks are fun, can be useful, and exercise a dog’s mind.

So when your dog gets all that down pat and passes the BA Level, there are two higher levels of CLASS (Masters and PhD). Talk about higher education! So, I have my work cut out for me. I really need to work on those stays. If you want to learn more about CLASS, you can visit the official CLASS website and watch a demonstration of all the skills of the BA Level by clicking here.